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François Bayrou’s centrist party is under investigation over allegations related to jobs at the European Parliament

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French Minister of Justice Francois Bayrou

By

WilliamHorobin

PARIS—Emmanuel Macron’s justice minister François Bayrou quit the government Wednesday, depriving the French president of a key ally who rallied centrists to his successful election campaign.

Bayrou’s centrist party Mouvement Démocrate, known as MoDem, is being targeted by a preliminary probe into allegations of benefiting from a breach of confidence in relation to parliamentary assistant jobs at the European Parliament. The party has denied any wrongdoing.

The justice minister told Agence France-Presse he will give a news conference later Wednesday to explain his decision to quit the government. Defense minister Sylvie Goulard, another member of Bayrou’s party, said Tuesday she would also leave the government.

“It was a personal choice. That was the choice announced yesterday by Sylvie Goulard and the choice today of François Bayrou,” government spokesman Christophe Castaner said on French radio. “It simplifies the situation,” he added.

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